Devices for sorting of media



June 16, 1959 R. F. HOHMAN 2,890,798

DEVICES FOR SORTING OF MEDIA Filed March 21, 1957 I 4 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR ROBERT F'. HOH MAN I ATTORNEY R. F. HOHMAN DEVICES FOR SORTINGOF MEDIA June 16, 1959 Filed Mafch 21, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

INVENTOR ROBERT F'. HOH MAN ATTO R N EY R. F. HOHMAN DEVICES FOR SORTINGOF MEDIA June 16, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 21, 1957 FIG.5-

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N A Rm o0 MH E. mm E w R ATTORNEY R. F. HOHMAN DEVICES FOR SORTING OFMEDIA June 16, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 21, 1957 INVENTORROBERT F. HOH MAN qawfim/ ATTOR 'NEY DEVICES F SORTING 0F MEDIA RobertF. Hellman, Beverly, Application March 21', 1957, Serial No. 647,664

11 Claims. (Cl. 211-41) The present invention relates generally to theart of filing and sorting of media.

In modern business transacting, it is necessary to sort, or accumulateor store documents of a great variety of thicknesses, sizes andpurposes. In order to logically classify such documents and present themin a form for ready access, a number of devices have been proposed amongwhich are leaf-type or horizontal sorters and upright or verticalsorters.

The present invention is concerned with improvements in or relating tosuch devices of the general type known as vertical sorters.

In the art, such vertical sorters have become recognized as a desiredmeans for use for classifying, sorting, and filing of media, such assmaller area documents, for example, sales slips, receipts, bank checks,and the like. The general characteristics of such devices as arespecific to the present invention are a plurality of substantiallyupright leaves or dividers, each being capable of bearing identifyingindicia, between the leaves of which are placed the media to be stored.Thus, the leaves must be movable to accommodate the media and to permitready sorting, examination and/ or removal of a selected item. Not onlyindividual sorters, particularly for smaller area media, arecontemplated by the present invention but also means for classifying andpermitting sorting of any media, of whatever size or area since themajor characteristic of substantially upright leaves spaced apart forthe accommodation of media is the only criterion.

Vertical sorting devices of conventional type comprise a series ofguides, leaves, dividers or index cards, usually with tabs, projectingframes, or like indicia bearing means in staggered position across thewidth of the guides and arranged at the upper edges, for the basicpurpose of identifying in a desired sequence a plurality ofinter-related subject indicia. conventionally, the guides or dividershave a suitably shaped hole at the lower center through which a rodpasses and to allow each guide to be swung forward or backward toaccommodate media between the guides and to permit ready access to suchmedia between the guides, the holes are of greater cross-sectional areathan the rod. Also, with devices of the conventional type disclosed, itis not possible to easily move the dividers from front to back, which isthe logical direction. That is, the only bodily movement which anydivider can take with any ease is from back to front, which is thereverse movement to that most desired by the operator.

In all such devices of the prior art other disadvantages have existed.For example, when two parallel dividers are parted at the top to form alarge V-opening for receiving media, the dividers have to be manuallyreturned to parallel position. Also, it is necessary to have a dependingtab on each divider to receive the rod and these become entangled withthe proximate tabs when the media is bulky causing one divider to followanother, and preventing easy formation of a receiving V-opening.

Patented June 16, 1959 It is the principal object of the presentinvention to provide an improved vertical sorter of the general typedescribed which overcomes each and every one of the objections,disadvantages and problems identified above with respect to existingvertical sorting devices.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a vertical sorting orlike filing device having front to back searching facilities, withoutbinding or like drawbacks, which is fast in operation, whether sorting,classifying, examining, filing or searching, which is simple tooperateand which requires a minimum of manual actions.

Other objects of the invention will be made clear in the accompanyingdescription or will be obvious therefrom.

In itsmost important aspect, the present invention herein described isan improvement over the existing types of sorters in that it eliminatesthe difiiculties and requirements for a conscious effort on the part ofthe operator or searcher to make the necessary adjustments. Itfurthermore provides a means for releasing the pressure on the dividersat the completion of a sort thus simplifying the removal of the sortedmedia from the sorting device. This invention as a preferredmodification provides a vertical sorter having the followingcharacteristics and advantages:

(1) It always will return the dividers to their approximate correctangle for best visibility and easiest reading without any consciouseffort on the part of the operator.

(2) It will space any distance between any two or more dividers and thisspacing will be sufficient only to compensate for the displacementrequired by the actual media being placed in the device; this isaccomplished without any conscious effort on the part of the operator asa by-product of the normal sorting function.

(3) The dividers thereof will not follow up, one on the other nor runaway, as is usual in conventional devices.

(4) It eliminates the need for a follower block such as is customarilyused on all filing equipment of this general type.

(5) It has a release mechanism which facilitates removal of sortedmedia.

While the invention will be generally illustrated and described withrespect to a sorter as defined above particularly designed for smallarea media, for example, bank checks or sales slips, it is obvious thatthe same principles can be utilized for any size, area or type of mediaand that the device specifically described and illustrated as a sortercan be incorporated into any conventional card tray, file cabinet,ledger tray or similar existing vertical sorting equipment, giving saidequipment all the advantages described and specifically enumeratedhereinbefore and hereinafter.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustratecertain modes of carrying out the present invention and specificallydefine the basic method of operation of the device of the presentinvention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sorter of the type herein referred to,having the improvements in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation view of the unit of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the unit'of Fig. 1, taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. l, with the parts shown in a first or locked position;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3 and copiedtherefrom, but showing the parts in another or unlocked position, toillustrate the operation of the device according tothe invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail of an operating means for locking andunlocking the unit of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail in isometric projection of the modifiedlocking and unlocking means of Fig.

Figure 7 is a front view of one of the novel dividers of the presentinvention as used in the unit of Fig. 1;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the :divider of Fig. 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged detail of part of the divider shownin Fig. 7;

Figure 10 is an elevational view of the unit of Fig. 1 taken at thefront or operating end; and

Figure 11 is an isometric detail view of the operating parts of the unitof the present invention, taken at a point from the front end of theunit, particularly showing a locking and unlocking mechanism.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, particularly Figures 1 to 5,the vertical type sorter in accordance with the present invention hasfirst and second main brace bars and 21, each being elongated andrectangular.

Bars 20 and 21 are joined at the respective ends by U- shaped cross-bars23 and 24, the bars 20 to 24 comprising a generally rectangular frame.The U-shaped portion of cross-bars 23 and 24 depends downwardly as shownin the drawings. The bars 20 to 24 constituting the main frame of theunit are bolted together by suitable screw means such as the illustratedscrew attachments 25 and 26 shown particularly in Figures 2 and 5, thescrew attachments being conventional.

Seated within the depending U-shaped cross-bars 23 and 24 andco-extensive in length with the brace bars 20 and 21, there is provideda main channel member 27, having its base embraced by the U-shapedmember and its leaves extending upwardly, said leaves being identifiedat 28 and 29 in Figures 1 and 5. The base of the channel member 27 isshown at 30. Channel 27 is suitably firmly attached to the U-shapedcross-bars 23 and 24 by conventional means (not shown) whereby the unitthus described comprises a rigid structure.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided forestablishing a moving track within the embrace of the main channel 27,which track is suitably supported to assume various positions withinsaid main channel and relative thereto. To this end a further channel isprovided shown at 31 with its base of lesser width than the main channel27 and its leaves of lesser height than those of the main channel 27,whereby the channel 31 may freely nest within the channel 27 and moverela tive thereto. Channel track 31 is suitably supported with respectto channel 27 as by hangers 32, said hangers occupying the space betweenthe leaves of main channel 27 and the leaves of the channel track 31 andbeing attached at one end to channel 27 and at the other end to channeltrack 31, the hangers 32 being angularly related as illustrated wherebychannel track 31 may move within main channel 27 and be depressedrelative thereto by downward pressure upon the base of channel track 31.

It is desired that channel track 31 shall be normally spring-urged awayfrom main channel 27 to which end a suitably shaped leaf spring 33supported by screws 34 (see Figure 10) is arranged between the twochannels at one extreme end of the unit, specifically at the end whichmay be designated at the front or operating end A shown in Figure 2 forexample. Thus, normally the channel track 31 will be held in itsuppermost position relative to main channel 27 bythe spring pressureexerted on its base by spring 33, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of thedrawings. This is designated for illustration as a locked position.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention it is desirableto provide means whereby the channel track 31 may be depressed withrespect to the main channel 27 against said spring 33 and held in thatposition, namely, in the lowermost position that the channel track 31can occupy with respect to main channel 27. This is designated forillustration as an unlocked position. To this end there is provided atthe operating end A a crossbar or cross-arm 35 extending over the endsof the main brace bars 20 and 21 and attached thereto by screws 36. Thecross-arm 35 is comprised of a flat main plate with a depending portion37 of generally rectangular formation which is adapted to lay within theembrace of the leaves of the channel track 31. A portion of the crossarm35 is cut away in a rectangular aperture 38, this aperture passingthrough the depending portion 37. Seated therewithin and extending to aposition below the depending portion 37, there is arranged a cam membergenerally shown at 39, having a main fiat face 40 which is parallel tothe upper face of the base of channel track 31 and two angular sidefaces 41 and 42 (see Figure 10). In order to permit limited rotationalmovement of the cam member 39 within the rectangular aperture 38 a pin43 passes through the body of the cam member 39 and into contact withsuitable bores or apertures 44 and 45 bored through the dependingportion 37, the bores being in the longitudinal axis of the device,namely, parallel with main brace bars 20 and 21. The pin 43 is a tightfit in its receiving bores through the body of cam member 39 and isadapted to move therewith. The receiving apertures 44 and 45 within thebody of the depending portion 37 are of such dimension as to permitrotation of the pin 43 within the bores 44 and 45 whereby the cam member39 can be rotated within the receiving rectangular aperture 38.

In order to permit such limited rotation there is provided attached tothe cam member 39 an upstanding handle 46 having a portion 47 which issuitably enlarged for ready grasping whereby upon movement of the handle46 to the left or right of Figure 10, as will be shown in the dottedpositions B and C, the cam member will be swung to place either face 41or 42 into contact with the base of the channel track 31. The handle 46is suitably connected in any desired manner to the cam member 39 to movetherewith and thus provide said movements from the three positions shownin Figure 10 wherein at position D the handle 46 is upright with theflat face 40 in contact with the base of the channel track 31 when thechannel track 31 will be raised relative to the main channel 27 by meansof spring 33. By swinging the handle 46 to either position B or C thefaces 41 or 42 will make contact with the base of the channel track 31and force this down relative to the main channel 27 against the actionof the spring into the lowered position at the extremity of the movementprovided by the hangers 32. These two positions are shown clearly inFigures 3 and 4 where in Figure 3 handle 46 is shown upright and in theposition of the handle at D in Figure 10 and where in Figure 4 thehandle is angular and in position B of Figure 10.

It will of course be readily recognized that the shape of the cam faces40, 41 and 42 are such relative to the distance between the center ofrotation at 43 that when the arm or handle 46 is moved from the positionD to the position B, or from D to the position C in Figure 10, a directcam action to force the channel track 31 down ward would take place.

In accordance with the present invention a plurality of dividers 48 aresuitably mounted to be associated with the movements of channel track 31and the main channel 27. T 0 this end, the dividers 48 of the presentinvention are specifically as shown in the details comprising Figures 7,8 and 9. Dividers 48 are provided with a body 49 comprising arectangular card as is conventional, this being formed of metal,cellulosic material or of transparent plastic, as examples. As is usual,there is provided an index 50 at the top of the dividers, the positionof the index 50 varying laterally across the card to permit of readyidentification of the index shown therein. This is a conventionalarrangement with devices of the type with which the invention isconcerned and therefore needs no further description. Referringspecifically to Figures 7, 8 and 9 it will be seen that the body of thedivider 48 identified as 49 is cut away at its lowest ortion with alarge rectangular Window 51. Furthermore, the window 51 has a leaf 52 ofthe body material of 49 which has been retained and which has been bentoutwardly as shown particularly in Figure 9. This leaf has placedthereover a metallic supporting member 53 coextensive therewith, theunit 5253 comprising an outwardly extending tongue, and the two membersare riveted together as at 54 in order to make them unitary. 'The lowerthin edge of the window is also reinforced with a metal strip comprisinga metallic tube which is curled over the lower edge of the body 48 as at55 forming a reinforcement thereof and having a tongue 56 extendingoutwardly in the same direction as tongue 53. The two tongues or tabs 53and 56 are spaced apart as shown particularly in Figures 8 and 9 andactually the distance between these is selected to be a little Widerthan the distance between the upper and lower faces of the channel track31. In like manner, the dimensions of the window 51 are such that thelower end of the divider 48 may completely embrace the two channels,channel track 31 and main channel 27, whether these are in therestricted position when the handle is in position B or C or whetherthey are in the unrestricted position when the handle is in position Das shown in Figure 10, whereby the channels may move relative to oneanother under urge of handle 46 as previously described without makingany direct contact with the main area of the window. However, when inposition over the two channels 31 and 27, as clearly shown in Figures 3and 4, the tongue or tab 53 will be within the leaves of the channeltrack 31 and will be in contact therewith, whereas the tongue 56 will bein contact with the under face of the channel track 31 for the purposehereinafter described, to which end the main channel 27 has alongitudinal slot 57 throughout the major portion of its length, thewidth thereof being equivalent in substance to the width of the tongue53 and being slightly wider to guide this in its movements and to retainit in contact with the underside of channel 31.

It will be realized that the dimensions of the various apertures in thedivider 48 are such as to permit complete guiding of the dividers on thetwo channels, and particularly on the inner channel, once the dividershave been assembled thereon as specifically shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and4. Assembly of the dividers upon the channel is easily undertaken by theremoval of the rear U-shaped cross-bar 23 whereby the dividers can beslipped on and the cross-bar 23 replaced to retain them from being takenaway from the unit. Thus as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4 thedividers can move along the channel 31 as desired, depending upon therelative position of channel 27 and track 31. As hereinbefore explainedthe position of Figure 3 is the locked position, namely, with thechannel 27 and track 31 widest apart. In this position as clearly seenthe channel 31 is spaced from the main channel 27 and the spring 33maintains this upward pressure which causes the two channels to be sospaced apart. The tongues 56 are in contact with the lower face of thechannel track 31 and particularly the tongues 53 are all in firm contactwith the upper face of the channel track 31 and are prevented from beingpulled forward at any time by the contact of the tongue 53 with the faceof the channel track. Thus in the position of Figure 3 it may be statedthat all of the dividers are in upstanding and locked position with thevarious media to be held between the dividers firmly secured.

The functioning of the device thus described may be in various ways.

When the unit is to be used as a sorter there is no necessity to usehandle 46 and its associated parts at all and actually these can bedispensed with except that a positive unlocking of this nature mayperiodically be of some benefit. I

An operator now wishes to insert media between selected dividers 48 asdetermined by the indiciacarried thereby. To this end, pulling theselected divider 48 forward through an arc toward front end A will firstcause a V-shaped slot to be made between this divider and the nextrearward divider. By this movement also the tab 53 of this pulleddivider will press down into track 31 and depress this against spring 33toward and into main channel 27, thus unlocking all the dividers 48 andleaving these free to swing and move bodily, all except the one dividerpulled forward which is being manually held and operatively used tounlock the device. Thus all the dividers will move from the position ofFigure 3 to the position of Figure 4. It will be noted that the extremesof arcuate movement from Figure 3 to Figure 4 for each divider 4% goesover and through its center line, the tabs 53 and 56 being deliberatelychosen as to angle to permit this. Thus, all of the dividers 48 willfirst swing forwardly from the angle of Figure 3 through their centersto the slight angle shown in Figure 4 and in this movement the fulcrumor pivot area will change from the tip of tab 53 to the end of tab 56.

As the manual pull on the held divider is now released, after puttingmedia therebehind, the pressure of the media, by its weight, bulk or theact of insertion, or all three, will act against all the dividers toshove these back or walk them as they change from the position of Figure4 back to the locked position of Figure 3. An examination of Figures 3and 4 clearly shows this change of fulcrum which upon exertion of thesmallest pressure must result in a bodily shift which is proportional tothat pressure. This unit illustrated automatically compensates for thebulk of the added media as it is placed into position, this being afeature of the present invention providing great advantages over priorart procedures.

When sorting, namely, adding material to the device, this unique use ofthe divider 48 for operating the locking and unlocking of the channel 27and track 31 is all that is needed. When unloading the unit, the sameprocedure may be adopted, it being realized that operation of the frontdivider 48 will unlock all the others. Thus, a special front plate 58,hereinafter described, may be utilized for unlocking the device andmeans may be suitably provided to positively retain this, or anydivider, in the forward position, to cause a permanent unlocking orunloading position. On the other hand, when unloading the sorter, meanssuch as the handle 46 and cam 39 may be used when such unlocking isdesired in a positive fashion.

When using the device of the present invention as an accumulative file,storage file or searching file, the handle 46 with its cam releasemechanism will be of greater utility, as is obvious.

When so using the device, if it is desired to make it possible to searchthrough the papers, or to re-sort them, or to add further papersthereto, it is only necessary to swing the handle 46 to either positionB or C of Figure 10 and then the parts will assume the position clearlyshown in Figure 4, this being the unlocked, loosened or free positionfor sorting or like searching purposes. As clearly shown in Figure 4 thevarious dividers 48 still have some contact of the tongue 56 with thelower edge of the channel track 31 but the tongue 53 is substantiallyfree of contact with the upper face of the channel track 31 and in thisposition they can be pulled forward as will be readily seen by comparingFigures 3 and 4 Thus ready searching can take place in the position ofFigure 4 and the dividers can be moved as desired both to examine thecontents between the dividers and add or subtract therefrom.

Inorder to provide a front operator unit against which all of therespective dividers may be pulled, plate 58 may be used. Plate 58 hassimilar tongues to those provided on the other dividers except that theupper tongue is provided by a dual fork 59 and a lower tongue 60. Inorder to prevent the front plate 58 from going too far forward, a pin 61is provided extending from the outside of the main channel 27, and toclearly prevent the front plate from sharing with the full movement ofthe dividers rearwardly since this is undesirable, a cover plate 62 isarranged transverse of the main brace bars 20 and 21 having a dependingblock 63 which presses against dual fork 59 together with a spring 64and passing between the two tongues and into contact with the frontplate 58. Cover plate 62 is secured to the main brace bars 20 and 21 bysuitable screws 65. In like manner, a backing plate 66 may be used beingprovided with a tongue 67 acting as the upper tongue and a tongue 68acting as the lower tongue.

From plate 58 and the back plate 66 may be dispensed with if desired andsimilar dividers to those identified as 48 may be used in the foremostand rearmost positions in the device without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention. The device hereinbefore describedcomprises a complete filing unit and can be used in the manner definedwithout any further encasement if desired. In this event it ispreferable to mount the main frame upon suitable rubber bumpers 69whereby the unit may be located at a desk or like position for use as asorter. However, it is obvious that the unit may be completely encasedas by being placed in a file drawer or in like enclosures, both for thepreservation of the contents within the device and for convenience.

The vertical sorting unit of the present invention as hereinbeforedescribed has been shown as being operated by means of a lever or handle46 which is rotated or swung to the left or right of a central positionto cause the unlocking or freeing of the dividers for use for sorting.It is a modification of the present invention to contemplate other meansof operating the two channel members, namely channel track 31 and mainchannel 27, whereby to obtain the locking and unlocking feature. To thisend reference is made to Figures and 6. The particular form of theinvention disclosed in Figures 5 and 6 is particularly of use whencontemplating a file cabinet drawer or like enclosure for a verticalstorage device according to the invention. Referring to Figures 5 and 6there is disclosed an operating device comprising a handle 70 having aknurled operating knob 71, capable of being swung within a slot such asmay be formed in a suitable casing, shown dotted at 72. The slot isshown clotted at 73. The lever 70 will be pivoted as at 74 and has atits extremity a circular cam 75. pin 76 which is supported in anLabracket 77 forming part of lever 70, whereby as lever 70 is swung onits pivot 74 the circular cam 75 will go to the left or the right ofFigure 6.

The mechanism of the vertical sorting unit will be identical to thatheretofore described with respect to Figures l to'4 and 7 to 10, forexample, except that the channel track 31 will be slightly modified asshown at 31A in Figure 6. Mounted within the extremity of the channeltrack 31A is a cam follower or groove 78 which has a low depression 79wherein the circular cam 75 may seat in a relaxed position andraisedsections 80 and 81. As will readily be seen, as the lever 70 is swung tothe left or right the circular cam 75 will cause depression of thechannel 31A and will ride on the cam follower .78 into contact witheither groove 80 or 81, in which position the channel, 31A will belowered against the action of the spring33 as previously described, forinstance, with respect to Figure 10. Thus by pushing the lever 70 overto one side or the other the effect can be obtained as previouslydescribed of bringing the channel track 31 into closer contact withchannel 27 to release the dividers as hereinbefore described, and byplacing the cam follower 75 in its lowest position, namely in thedepression or groove 79 when the lever 70 will be in its centralposition, the chan- Cam 75 is mounted on a t nel 31A will be furthestaway from the main channel 27 and the device will be in locked position.It is obvious that other means than those disclosed can be utilized forobtaining the operation -of the respective channel track 31 and itsassociated main channel 27.

The filing device of the present invention whether used as a sorter ashereinbefore defined or as a storage or accumulating device or forsearching, essentially provides a unit whereby fast easy access to themedia is obtained, wherein ready introduction of media can be made andwhere all the problems and disadvantages met with in prior andconventional devices of this nature are met and overcome. Modificationsof the device which are obvious within the spirit and scope of theappended claims are specifically herein embodied.

What is claimed is:

1. A vertical sorting device of the type described for receiving mediacomprising in combination a plurality of dividers each having arectangularly slotted portion at their lower ends, an elongatedhorizontally mounted channel with its leaves projecting upwardly andpassing through said dividers at the slotted portions, a first angulardownwardly and outwardly extending tab projecting from the upper edge ofthe slotted portion of each divider toward the inner face of the base ofsaid channel, a second angular upwardly and outwardly extending tabprojecting from the lower edge of the slotted portion of each dividertoward the outer face of the base of the channel, the angles of saidtabs permitting an arcuate movement of each divider from a forwardlyinclined position through the center line to a rearwardly inclinedposition, an elongated horizontal support for said channel, a linkagebetween said channel and support permitting limited vertical movement ofthe channel relative to said support to an upper and a lower horizontalplane, said tabs acting on said channel to place same in one or theother horizontal plane to cause frictional binding of said upper tabsagainst said channel in the upper horizontal plane, to lock the dividersfrom movements along said channel, and to free said upper tabs frombinding contact in the lower horizontal plane and allow said dividers tobe moved along said channel, by entry of media between the dividers.

2. A vertical sorting device of the type defined for receiving mediacomprising in combination a plurality of vertical dividers each having arectangular slotted portion at their lower ends, a pair of tabs eachprojecting toward the other arranged on the top and bottom of eachslotted portion of a divider, an elongated horizontal guide memberpassing through said slotted portions of the dividers and between thegaps formed between each set of tabs on a divider, a horizontallyarranged track embracing said guide member and cut away at its lowerface to accommodate said lower tabs and permit them to contact the underface of said guide member when a divider is swung in an arcuate pathfrom a position inclined rearwardly, through center, to a positioninclined forwardly, hangers supporting said guide member within saidtrack and permitting parallel vertical movement of said guide memberrelative to said track, to a plurality of horizontal planes in a firstof which the upper tabs contact the upper face of said guide member witha binding frictional grip, and the dividers incline rearwardly, and asecond of which the lower tabs contact the guide member with a slidingengagement, any one of said upper tabs on a divider acting to contactsaid guide member upon the divider being swung arcuately forward fromits rearwardly inclined position, to position the guide member in thesecond horizontal plane, to free all said dividers, and permit saiddividers rearward of the divider swung forward to be rearwardlydisplaced to accommodate the bulk of the inserted media.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said guide member is spring-urged toan upper position relative to said track.

4. The device of claim 2 in which the upper tab of each divider isresilient.

5. A vertical sorting device of the type defined comprising incombination a plurality of slotted dividers between which media may beinserted, an elongated flat guide bar passing through the dividers atthe slotted portions thereof, a first outwardly projecting angularextending tab on each divider lying in proximity to one face of saidbar, a mounting for said bar, a linkage between said mounting and saidbar permitting upward vertical movement bodily of said bar to place saidfirst tabs in binding contact with said one face of said bar, a secondangularly extending tab on each divider projecting outwardly in the samedirection as the first tab toward the reverse face of said bar, theangular extension of said first and second tabs in relationship to oneanother permitting an arcuate movement of each divider from a forwardlyinclined position through a center line to a rearwardly inclinedposition, elevating means for moving said bar upwardly within saidmounting and depressing means for moving said bar downwardly within saidmounting, in which latter position said dividers are free to slide onsaid bar and can partake of said arcuate movement limited by the outwardextension of said first and second tabs.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said bar is springurged into elevatedposition within said mounting.

7. The device of claim 5 in which said bar is springurged in itsdownward position within said mounting.

8. The device of claim 5 in which the elevating and depressing movementsof said bar within said mounting are controlled by a cam and camfollower.

9. The device of claim 5 in which the elevating and depressing movementsof said bar within said mounting are controlled by swinging any dividerwith an arcuate movement passing through its center line, with the uppertab depressing the bar on an initial forward arcuate movement of any onedivider and allowing the bar to rise on a rearward return arcuatemovement, the insertion of media behind said one divider causing allrearward dividers to automatically space back a distance to accommodatesaid media upon said return movement of said one divider rearwardly.

10. A vertical filing device of the type described comprising incombination a plurality of dividers each having a rectangularly slottedportion at their lower ends, an elongated horizontally mounted channelwith its leaves projecting upwardly and passing through said dividers atthe slotted portions, a first angular downwardly and outwardly extendingtab projecting from the upper edge of the slotted portion of eachdivider toward the inner face of the base of said channel, a secondangular upwardly and outwardly extending tab projecting from the loweredge of the slotted portion of each divider toward the outer face of thebase of the channel, the angular relationship of said tabs being suchthat downward pressure on the upwardly extending tabs cause an arcuatemoveto a frontward inclining position, with said upwardly extending tabsacting as a fulcrum, an elongated horizontal support formed as a channeltrack embracing said channel for said channel, a linkage between saidchannel and support permitting limited vertical movement of the channelrelative to said support to an upper and a lower horizontal plane, andresilient means tending to place the channel in an upper horizontalplane, an operating means for placing said channel in its upper or alower horizontal plane to cause frictional binding of said upper tabsagainst said channel in the upper horizontal plane, and lock thedividers from movements along said channel, and to free said upper tabsfrom binding contact in the lower horizontal plane and allow saiddividers to slide along said channel.

11. A vertical sorting device of the type defined comprising incombination a plurality of dividers each slotted at their lower ends, ahorizontally mounted elongated guide bar passing through the slottedends to assemble said dividers in parallel substantially verticalposition, a pair of tabs on the lower end of each divider on either sideof the slot and angularly projecting outwardly on either side and towardsaid bar to form an upper and lower tab for each divider, said tabshaving their angles of projection such that each divider can have an arcof movement from a forwardly inclined position through said verticalposition to a rearwardly inclined position, using the lower tab as afulcrum for each divider, supporting means for placing said bar in afirst horizontal plane with said tabs loosely embracing said bar andsaid dividers angularly inclined forwardly from the vertical andslidable along said bar and in a second horizontal plane with said tabsin binding frictional engagement with said bar and said dividersangularly inclined rearwardly and prevented from sliding along said bar,and the selecting of either one of said two horizontal planes beingunder control of any one of said dividers by swinging a divider throughsaid are of movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

